Distal Pancreatectomy

My mom was just diagnosed a few days ago.  We saw surgeon today.  He wants to do distal pancreatectomy surgery ASAP.  Has anybody had any experience with this?

so that is on the tail. get a surgeon who has done many of these. I keep reading suggestions here to be at a hospital or facilty that does +100  a year, Whipples and smaller also. Chk out the john hopkins disscussion board for many pc topics. Just google gets you several blogs and pages of other folks who have had various surgeries.

good luck, /Brog, twin with PC survior so far 8 mnths chemo

I'm so very sorry! It's good news that they want to do surgery. It means the cancer has not spread too far to be removed surgically.  My husband is 52 and he recently (jan 09) had a distal pancreatomy performed at Indiana University hospital. It's where they remove the tail of the pancreas and the spleen. The spleen is on the pancreas tail so it has to be removed as well. My husbands adenocarcinoma was about the size of a nickel so he was very fortunate and they were able to remove it laproscopically. His recoverys been amazing due to the fact that he had an incredible surgeon (Dr. Nakeeb, one of the best in the country). He had to have a drain (I believe its called a JP drain)  in his side for several weeks but other then that it wasn't bad and he's going through chemotherapy right now. Gemzar 3 times a month and the side effects have been very mild. Get the best surgeon you can, someone who has alot of experience. I hope it all goes well for your mom.

I had to have a distal pancreatectomy in March due to a tumor the size of a golf ball on the tail of my pancreas.  The surgeon removed half my pancreas, my spleen, and my gall bladder.  I had the surgery at a smaller hospital, but my surgeon was very experienced and had done lots of procedures like this.  I was in ICU for 5 days and then on the regular floor for 4 more days.  I would have been out sooner, but they had given me an epidural for pain control, and I accidentally pulled it out and that cost me an extra day in ICU.

I was pretty sore when I got home and still had staples in place, plus a drain (JP bulb) that came out my left side.  I had to empty the drain a couple of times a day.  I had some trouble eating much food and lost a little weight.  But I recovered quickly, and today I'm just fine.  My tumor turned out to be NOT cancer!  At least, that's what they tell me.  They called it a "pseudopapillary neoplasm" and said if left untreated it definitely would have become cancerous.  I really dodged a bullet. 

Feel free to e-mail me privately if you would like any further information.  Good luck to you,

Nancy

Hi I had a distal pancreatectomy & splenectomy (at the age of 41) almost 2 years ago now. I was lucky to recover quite quickly (about 6 weeks) and have not had any complications relating to the surgery. I have had to follow up with adjuvant chemotherapy and chemo-radiotherapy, both of which I tolerated well. I am now well, feeling extremely fit and am leading a normal working and family life. I wish you & your family well.

My husband had this surgery on March 30th. He had the best surgeon in town.. It was about a 5 hour surgery.  He had a neuroendocrine tumor. He doesn't have to have chemo or radiation. The cancer was very slow growing.  So he has go in for tests every 4 to 6 months for 4 years. Hopefully it was all removed..

I will say we didn't realize the extent of the surgery.. And he sadly had complications and was in the hopsital 21 days. His recover was a bit slower than most. But is now recovered..

He has surpised his docs as he doesn't have to take any digestive enzymes and has had no insuline problems.

My best to you and my advice would be to do alot of research..

 

I had a distal done 4 months ago and went from florida up to baltimore.  I went to John Hopkins and had the surgery done by Dr. John Cameron, he has done more of these types of surgeries than any other doctor in the world. I was so glad I decided to make the trip instead of having it done locally. I highly recommend him.  They removed 3/4 of my pancreas and the spleen taking out 6cm tumor. I spent 5 days in the hospital (1 day in icu & 4 days in the room). I did alot of research before I had my surgery and I spent countless hours on line. I'm sure both of you are very nervous so make sure you are very confident with who ever you decide on. After I left the hospital I had to stay in Baltimore for another 5 days for a follow up. I walked all over the city day after day until I went back home. They say the more active you are the better you may heal. So stay strong and try not to over worry yourselves and everything should turn out for the better.  BEST WISHES  p.s. (the distal is not near as bad as the whipple)

 

On 7/19/2009 katherine61 wrote:

I'm so very sorry! It's good news that they want to do surgery. It means the cancer has not spread too far to be removed surgically.  My husband is 52 and he recently (jan 09) had a distal pancreatomy performed at Indiana University hospital. It's where they remove the tail of the pancreas and the spleen. The spleen is on the pancreas tail so it has to be removed as well. My husbands adenocarcinoma was about the size of a nickel so he was very fortunate and they were able to remove it laproscopically. His recoverys been amazing due to the fact that he had an incredible surgeon (Dr. Nakeeb, one of the best in the country). He had to have a drain (I believe its called a JP drain)  in his side for several weeks but other then that it wasn't bad and he's going through chemotherapy right now. Gemzar 3 times a month and the side effects have been very mild. Get the best surgeon you can, someone who has alot of experience. I hope it all goes well for your mom.

My mom had surgery in August and her tumor was removed and she is recovering well.  She is 68.  She is about to start chemo next week and she met with radiogy oncologist to discuss whether she wanted to do the radiation in addition to chemo.  Both her surgeon and her oncologist feels that based on studies, adding radiation may not benefit her results.  Of course, the radiologist is pushing her to do the radiation, but she just is petrified of it.  She has no problem with doing the chemo.  I read that your husband did chemo.  Was that recommended to him (no radiation) or was that is choice?  How is he doing.  Right now, we are going to go with her wishes and not do the radiation, but I am just trying to do my own research to see whether adding the radiation will help her out in the long run.    Her surgery went well and there is no spread. She had the cancer on her tail, so her tail and body were removed, along with the sleen and a small part of the colon.  Her lymph nodes were good and all surrounding tissue came back clean.

 

Hi Nancy, I am having a distal pancreatectomy in ten days, on November 16th, at Stanford University Hospital. I have a small Neuroendocrine tumor on the tail of my pancreas. Hopefully it will be removed laparoscopically preserving the spleen. Reading your description of your surgery was helpful to me. Thanks. Any suggestions, words of wisdom or caution, or further advice? How long before you returned to normal activities; lifting, driving, eating normal diet? Thanks again. Claudia

Hi! I too am having a distal pancreatectomy for a neuroendocrine tumor of the tail of the pancreas. It is small and we hope that it will be done laprascopically with spleen preservation. How large was your husband's tumor and where was it located? Diid he have an open surgery or was it done laprascopically? Did they also remove the spleen and what were his complications? If you don't mind my asking. I am scheduled for surgery on November 16th at Stanford University Hospital. Any suggestions or words of advice of wisdom? Thanks. Claudia